By Andrew Prine, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
In Michigan, Governor Jennifer Granholm signed a law into effect to help distinguish or define babysitting from required day care licensing. The law states that babysitting is exempt from Michigan licensing and regulation if the babysitting is provided for free or involves less than $600.00 per year of annual payment or income. See Michigan Law Clarifies Babysitting / Day Care.
By Stephanie F. Brown, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
The State of Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is the state agency responsible for supervising and licensing child care and day care centers in Georgia. Child safety advocates and educators recommend that more strict training and education requirements be put in place for administrators and lead teachers in day care centers. By enacting and enforcing such regulations, day care providers and lead teachers will be required to go through training and education which, in turn, will make them more informed and knowledgeable about their responsibilities as child care providers. It is vital that children, especially toddlers and infants, are cared for in an environment that is clean and supervised by alert, knowledgeable and educated staff members. You can read more about the potential changes in Georgia’s child care laws at Georgia Day Care Providers May Be Subject to Stricter Training Requirements.
By Jay Foster, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
A woman and her daughter were riding horses with a larger group along the Big Foot Horse Trail in the DeSoto National Forest when Evan Joseph Kane fired a gun in their direction. Apparently, Kane was deer hunting at the time of the incident. Both horse riders and a horse suffered gunshot personal injuries. The ten year old girl suffered a punctured lung and was placed in intensive care. For safety, the trail is designed so that most of its length is near a public road, where shooting is prohibited.
By Scott A. Marks, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Facebook is a wonderful tool and communication medium for millions of people. Unfortunately, it is also used at times for violence, bullying, and other acts that led to the physical and / or emotional harm to children. In Calabass, California, a 12 year old boy was assaulted by classmates. A news report at Faox News stated that the assault may have been prompted by a posting titled “Kick a Ginger Day” which had something to do with an episode from the cartoon – South Park. Whatever the motivation, middle schools should be a place of safety and education for children rather than locations of assaults and bullying tactics. You can read more about this story at Facebook Post May Have Prompted Beating of Redhead at California Middle School.
By Aaron Edwards, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
A special needs teacher at a South Carolina Elementary School, Rosemary Mills, has been arrested and charged with unlawful conduct toward a child. She was reportedly witnessed by a parent of one of the other children, screaming and grabbing the child by the back of the neck and forcing the child down into a chair. She then allegedly told the boy to get up and put his book bag away, and then shoved him once he stood up. The parent reported the incident to the school, and Mills was placed on administrative leave. Nancy Britt, director of human resources for the school district, filed a police report sometime later.
By John Jensen, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
According to Asheville, North Carolina police, a four-year-old boy was killed in a car accident while running across a busy street to catch a bus. The child was reportedly walking with his mother early in the morning, and the mother was holding the boy’s hand. The boy apparently broke away from his mother suddenly and ran into the street when he saw their bus arriving at its stop. He was struck by a car in the northbound lane. The boy suffered a traumatic head injury, and could not be resuscitated by CPR delivered by emergency personal at the scene.
By Sara J. Powell, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
In Louisville, Kentucky, a man wrecked his car following an attempt to flee police after an attempted routine traffic stop. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reported the incident. In fleeing from the police, Miller Lee Smith, Jr. some how lost control of his vehicle which overturned. One child died and another was injured as a result of this crash. You can read more about this tragic and most avoidable crash at Man Arrested After Police Car Chase Leads to Child’s Death and Another Child’s Injuries.
By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
In Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, three middle school children recently suffered injuries as a result of a woman who served to attempt avoid crashing into a traffic jam. The students attended Beverly Hills Middle School. Action News ABC reported that Jemel Brunswick and Tyler Lowery were injured in this automobile / pedestrian incident. The third boy, named Beyene, was reported by his father (Beyene Beyene) to be in a coma at a local hospital. The driver carelessly drove across three lanes of traffic, then hit the boys, and then kept on moving until hitting the third boy 15 yards away. According to police, the driver finally slammed into a parked car and then finally came to a stop. See ABC 6 Action News – Three Children Hit by Car in Upper Darby Pennsylvania School Zone.
By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
According to Lt. Steve Holton of the Ravalli County, Montana Sheriff’s Office, an unidentified five-year-old boy died in Montana in an accident involving a farm tractor. The child was reportedly riding on the tractor’s running board when he fell and was run over by the tractor’s back wheels. He was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene. The driver of the tractor has not been identified, but has been described as an adult who is not one of the child’s parents. The accident is still being investigated. Police are reporting that the death appears to be accidental.
By Stephanie F. Brown, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Four year old Nathaniel Stafford is in critical condition after being attacked by a Labrador / Pit Bull mix. According to the boyfriend of the victim’s mother, Brian Caron, the attack was so vicious that it nearly killed the boy. The dog reportedly tore into the child’s head, tearing his ears off and lacerating his throat – only narrowly missing Nathaniel’s jugular vein. Caron and his girlfriend were watching the dog, named Chaos, for friends while they were out of town. They had the dog tied up at the edge of their property, but it managed to break free. The dog’s owner, Thomas Chastain, has agreed to have the dog put down. In the meantime, Nathaniel’s face and ears have been stitched back together, but he may have to wait up to ten days for a skin graft to cover his damaged scalp.
